Bay Area Members of Congress Tell Biden to Halt Offensive Aid to Israel

Updated 11:30 a.m. Sunday

In a statement to KQED Sunday, a spokesperson for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi clarified her thinking on signing the letter, saying that her major focus right now is an independent investigation so that there can be accountability for the strike on the World Central Kitchen workers and to prevent humanitarian workers from being attacked again.

“Speaker Pelosi is sympathetic to some of the thoughts in the letter, and she feels very strongly that there must be a comprehensive, independent investigation into the horrific killing of the World Central Kitchen heroes,” said Aaron Bennett, Communications Director & Chief Speechwriter for Rep. Pelosi. “Speaker Pelosi knows President Biden’s strong support for Israel and empathy with the innocent civilians in Gaza, and she respects his judgment in how to proceed.”

Original story

Five Bay Area members of Congress, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, have signed onto a joint letter calling on the Biden administration to stop offensive weapons transfers to Israel, pending an investigation into an Israeli airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza on Monday.

The letter, sent Friday, states that following the killing of the aid workers, and an “ever-worsening humanitarian crisis” in Gaza, it is unjustifiable to continue to approve offensive weapons transfers to Israel.

The members of Congress are now urging the Biden administration to conduct an investigation into how the clearly marked convoy, which had coordinated its movements with the Israeli military, was mistakenly targeted.

“We strongly urge you to withhold any offensive weapons transfers until the investigation into the airstrike is concluded and, if it is found this strike violated U.S. or international law, those responsible are held accountable,” the members of Congress wrote in the letter, which was addressed to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Bay Area U.S. Reps. Mark DeSaulnier, Barbara Lee, John Garamendi and Jared Huffman also signed the letter, which 40 U.S. representatives signed in all. Rep. Ro Khanna also indicated his desire to sign on the social media platform X.

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, whose district includes parts of the East Bay, has advocated for a temporary cease-fire to facilitate the return of hostages and improve humanitarian aid access in Gaza since the start of the war. In an interview with KQED, he said this message was part of those efforts.

“It just seemed to me, and to us, given what happened with the aid workers, it’s just one more message, that this has got to stop,” Rep. DeSaulnier said.

Solano County Congressman John Garamendi said the United States should not provide weapons to Israel when they have been used inappropriately and indiscriminately.

“It’s time for Israel to change its tactics, and the only way they’re going to do that is when the United States refuses to provide the offensive weaponry that they have used, in many cases, indiscriminately,” Rep. Garamendi said.  

The letter is one of the strongest rebukes yet of President Biden’s stance on the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which is set to enter its seventh month tomorrow.

The Israeli military on Friday dismissed two officers and reprimanded three others for their roles in the airstrike that killed the World Central Kitchen workers, saying they mishandled critical information and violated the army’s rules of engagement.

The letter calls on Biden to put conditions on any current and future aid transfers.

“We again urge you to ensure that any future military assistance to Israel, including already authorized transfers, is subject to conditions to ensure it is used in compliance with U.S. and international law.”

A statement from The White House on Thursday said that President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where he “emphasized that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable.”

Biden also reportedly told Prime Minister Netanyahu that “an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians.”

KQED’s Annelise Finney contributed to this story.